West Coast photos

Truth sunnin' it at Cannon Beach
Cannon Beach Cedar Running at the Beach

Tillamock cheese factory on a rainy morning!

Big ol' Old Tree on the Oswald Hike to the beach
Daddy and Cedar Kite flying at Cannon Beach

Mommy and Cedar at an overlook on the coast

Cedar al buried up at the beach
Hay Stack Rock at Cannon Beach
The 3 kiddos RVing it

Building Sandcastles at Fort Stevens Beach

How the boys traveled around the trails..Bobsled style!!
Truth at the beach look at those blue eyes!!
Orien loving the freedom to run whereever and eventually land in the sand
Big Boats near Fort Stevens

Wanted: 1 Running RV and a Trailer fit for selling Snowcones!!

Well lets just say our life has gone from crazy to over the top NUTTS!! This summer has had more bumps..more trips on the road...more babies added...more moments of thinking yes we truly are "crazy" then the past has ever seen....and after all that we are ready to hit the road..sell off everything, give our debt to whomever would like (hahaha) and start living the simple life...Our newest though is an RV and a trailer for selling Snow cones..(taking donations: running RVs, cash, trailers etc!) check out http://www.familiesontheroad.com/ or http://www.barenakedfamily.com/ or http://www.1-800.shaved-ice.com/ to get a reality check on our new life plans..don't laugh too much before sending that cash for a good cause..family travel time!!!
So why do I say travels, well yes again we just returned from another adventure..this time the 5 of us all packed it up, flew to Portland, Oregon...rented an RV and hit the coast..we ate sand, played in sand, pooped sand, cried due to sand, ran in the sand, slim boarded at the beach in the sand, and enjoyed the life on the road...yes still plenty of kid melt downs..but much more manageable with 2 parents!!!! And boy was it nice to be spoiled with awesome fresh fish off the docks, local brewed beers, sun, rain, fog, and everything in between!!
Now back from the trip we have had old friends from Jodys high school days visiting/moving to Colorado..so Courtney and her 15month old boy Mason have joined the team...making for new dynamics...DON'T GO FOR 4 YET(EVER) is what we have learned! Fun to have more boys around but WOW!!! So we have been jamming splitting up fights, enjoying family dinners, wandering the front range to play and I have been lucky enough to add a great women/mom friend to the Colorado land!!!! So in the moment... 3 boys fighting over 1 toy..... and hush...Truth a sleeping..and cant believe she is already 3.5 months old..growing fast and still full on calmness and smiles but waiting for the giggle. Lets see if we cant update photos soon......after Jody comes to the surface from returning to work we'll have time to download the photos from his laptop!!!! So here's to new adventure, new friends, new seasons..lets see where they take us!!!!!

If we were all a bit more like Keeley

I have been thinking lots about this whole human KINDNESS..word that is. Wondering how such a simple concept it truly rare to find and I am not one to unfortunately brag on this one as well. And then I think of Keeley. A women mid-way through her life and so filled with that true unconditional kindness almost love for all who enter her life. Keeley is a local barista at my towns Starbucks, but more then that she embodies the most pure state of kindness. She has this true grin, you know the one seen rarely on a workers face as if usually they are acting away there day with the classic questions "how is your day"' only to really want the answer '"good."( as were are well trained in the social world) but not Keeley she has a true interest in all who walk amongst her, true compassion for all..and I wonder how does she do it. Not too long ago her husband died of brain cancer, her family has stretched around the country and still she is filled with happiness. I wonder everyday how she does it...I don't think i would have that same love for all after such a tragic experience.. but can only hope I might. There isn't a visit that doesn't go by where she doesn't use words of encouragement, interest in my everyday life,and everyone elses, sharing all her treats with my kiddos. and just simply living for today. And then sadly I try to think of others like her and yes people are kind, people are loving but there is a rare someone who lives this life ever minute she is awake. So in a world filled with such hate, disgust, impatience, looking a the " grass is always greener" I am so blessed to know a women filled with unconditional love and wish to walk a moment in her footsteps. So here's to the Keeleys of the world to human kind!!

Summer times and Grandpa Tom visits....

Look at this Mud Bath in the Front Yard...YUCK!!
Playing at Lily Lake
Sleepy Orien....as usual....
Look at this almost 3 month old grin!!!
Grandpa Tom in love To beat to the heat we played played played....lots of water, lots of good grilled food....sushi of course..and time for the kids entertain grandpa!!! Thanks for coming...

We have come Full Circle!

Cedar driving the boat with Grandpa

Orien all passed out after a swim in the lake

The kiddos sleeping after a 2 day road trip....

swimming in the lake


Truth all smiles...

The Boys at Lake Superior..she is beautiful...

Avery, Orien, and Cedar relaxing at Amanda and Matts house

ahhh, we made it...2 weeks of play, travel, good food, plenty of family and friend time and we are now back in the great west. Was the perfect trip..i felt the heat, sweated more then I have in years, watched the kiddos get spoiled and fall in love with all that they meet. Cedar the kind guy that he is was so thankful for everyone that came to visit from old neighbors who played hide and seek to endless summer fun with his cousin AZ! It was hard to leave..and I filled with tears when I saw Cedars red eyes at the first stop on the trio saying he missed mimi and grandpa......he is getting big, really involved with the human touch...and to that i am thankful..what a full heart he carries. so here are the photos that tell the tale of boating, beachplay, kid time, etc.....

Top Ten Trip Moments through the eyes of the kids!

One week of traveling in MN = One week of kids being in awe and excited over things only kids are sometimes excited about! I love watching there eyes light up and there giggles all from such simple things!So here it is the Top 10 things Cedar, Orien and at times Truth enjoy in Minnesota in no particular order!! Wish I could get my photos to download..plenty to show later. We ahve decided to stay until Saturday and have Jody fly out to help co-pilot the trip back!

1. The Laundry shoot at Mimi and Grandpas house..EVERYTHING is now being sent to the basement many time a day!! Until today they had no clue where it went just that it was gone..lets keep bodies clear!
2.Riding bikes with Grandpa. Yes Grandpa dusted off his seat, filled the tires and now cruises with Cedar on the bike paths..too cute!
3.Visiting Sara and Tim (old girl friend from Junior high-College and husband) Cedar as we left said " I Love Sara" can we come back here..simply because she played with them!
4.Reading extra looong book from Mommy's book shelves from Mimi and Grandpa.
5. Feeding the ducks EVERYTHING in the front yard.
6. Watching the neighbor boy sell lemonade on a hot day. Cedar was so excited that he got out a drum, symbols,flag,,anything to help stir up business from across the way! Says he wants to sell peaches at our house when he gets back..might be aloooong wait between customers!
7.Watching milk carton boat races at Lake Calhoun in Minneapolis.
8.Having someone ride in the back of the van with them.
9.Swimming in the pool with Auntie Malia and AZ..chasing each other around. And playing in the basement of old toys with AZ(cousin) as well.
10. Eating pancakes every morning that Grandpa will cook them.

The Road Trip Itch!!

So here I am writing my blog from MN...land of hot (104), humid, sunny, green, Maple Grove. Sunday the itch began, the get in the van on a whim, visit MN family and friends...and have that feeling of open road Freedom! Must have been in the air as Cedar began begging to visit Mimi and Grandpa...and I kept saying maybe tomorrow..well see...Monday mornin came I asked Cedar what he wanted to do an yet again said "Can we visit mimi today" so with a Cedar phone call,,,Mimi excited and surprised we packed 1 random duffel bag of clothes..a cooler full of snacks, 2 bikes and Oriens scooter and said goodbye to the chickens and daddy who is working and having his own relaxing week!!

The open road..Nebraska being the most open road EVER!! Witnessed the closest funnel cloud (tornado) sirens and all from good ol' Flyin J's gas..just as the kids were dripping sweat, filling water bottles to look up and see this random twister in what seemed to be calm every where else. Cedar later asked if a tornado was an animal! (didn't point it out to them at the time) Then ahhhh a billboard for Starbucks..stop STORM HITS poor Orien scared of rain..so we watch and listen to the drums pounding in the sky to make light of the weather out there hoping that I won't loose a bike like years before when Jody and I traveled to Colorado...sipped a cold latte and juices, and headed for the road again...after of course playing smile games with Truth and coooing her way through the day...Fireflies amazing lights filling the highway all they way till the pit stop in Lincoln Nebraska where all 3 kid landed in the tub together to scrub away the sweat and food...

Wake, eat to do it all again...I realize now why someone out there invented Air Conditioning! Something we didn't realize the VW didn't have until months after buying her..but non the less a true breeze in my hair, that sweaty back...the feeling of sticking to Truth as she sips her milkies..all for hours to MN! Another call for a sbux stop..boys relaxed with wind, cold water and the secret to travel DVD's!! we made it to MN...excited to hit rush hour..sit and wait..what a lesson of patience..funny to get sunburned from sitting in the VW in 104 degree weather. we made it the kiddos are happy, already sweam in mimi and grandpa pool, played with cousin Aislin, and finally after books from Grandpa are sleeping..shhhh wish i had photos along the way but are all on the cell phone! gotta love looking back at Orien with chocolate head to toe from a smoothie that he decided to slim his body!
And now time to just enjoy MN...boating, lakes, pools, family, friends..and again head for the open road to Colorado in a few!!